I’m looking to hear from someone with real world experience in joining structural elements using epoxy.
The vacuum chamber is an aluminum stock pot 12” in diameter x 11” tall. I have a 4”wide x 8” tall x 1” deep bar stock panel to be attached to the side of the pot. I have pocketed the bar stock ¾” deep, leaving ¼” wide edge all around and machined that edge to conform to the curved side of the pot (6” radius).
The panel will support the manifold to which 2 (1”) ball valves will be attached as well as an instrument take-off port so the stresses (on the panel) should be confined to turning the valves on and off and just general handling.
I do not want to penetrate the chamber with screws so the question I have is whether or not the epoxy will hold the panel on the chamber.
There is a further complication in that the sides of the pot are not straight. I have begun bedding the panel to the pot by gluing sandpaper to the pot and rubbing the panel on it. This is working but the gaps I will need to fill will be inversely proportional to my patience. I’m down to a max gap of .030 - .040 with maybe 25% - 30% in contact.
The epoxy I am using “Torr Seal” by Varian. They make no structural claims but other high vac. Epoxy makers have said their product was suitable. Vac. stuff does get pricey.
Thanks in advance.
The vacuum chamber is an aluminum stock pot 12” in diameter x 11” tall. I have a 4”wide x 8” tall x 1” deep bar stock panel to be attached to the side of the pot. I have pocketed the bar stock ¾” deep, leaving ¼” wide edge all around and machined that edge to conform to the curved side of the pot (6” radius).
The panel will support the manifold to which 2 (1”) ball valves will be attached as well as an instrument take-off port so the stresses (on the panel) should be confined to turning the valves on and off and just general handling.
I do not want to penetrate the chamber with screws so the question I have is whether or not the epoxy will hold the panel on the chamber.
There is a further complication in that the sides of the pot are not straight. I have begun bedding the panel to the pot by gluing sandpaper to the pot and rubbing the panel on it. This is working but the gaps I will need to fill will be inversely proportional to my patience. I’m down to a max gap of .030 - .040 with maybe 25% - 30% in contact.
The epoxy I am using “Torr Seal” by Varian. They make no structural claims but other high vac. Epoxy makers have said their product was suitable. Vac. stuff does get pricey.
Thanks in advance.
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